Bruce Wagner is a novelist, a former student of Carlos Castaneda, and author of "Amputation." We discuss Hollywood as a laboratory for human behavior, transgression and transcendence, his decade with Castaneda, writing after the LA fires, and why fiction is our most potent vehicle to truth. READ MORE👉🏼http://bit.ly/richroll964 ✌🏼🌱 – Rich This Episode Is Brought To You By… Shokz: Use code RICHROLL for $10 off your purchase👉🏼http://www.shokz.com Rivian Electric vehicles that keep the world adventurous forever👉🏼https://www.rivian.com Squarespace: Use code RichRoll to save 10% off👉🏼https://bit.ly/squarespace2025 LMNT: Get a FREE LMNT sample pack for just $5 shipping👉🏼https://bit.ly/drinklmnt2025 Check out all of the amazing discounts from our Sponsors👉🏼https://www.richroll.com/sponsors 00:00:00 Start 00:00:49 Entering the Wagner Universe 00:01:31 The Scent of a Writer & Literary Influences 00:05:10 Buddhist Suffering & Transcendence 00:08:26 Personal History & Family Dynamics 00:09:27 Predetermination, Spiritual Teachers, and Leonard Cohen 00:13:56 Childhood in Beverly Hills 00:15:12 Love Affair with Language & Reading Habits 00:18:35 AD BREAK 1 00:22:24 Artistic Process & The Puzzle of Creation 00:24:50 Psilocybin, Mystical Experiences, and Storytelling 00:35:41 Truth, Artifice, and Reality 00:38:24 Infernal and Transcendent: Darkness and Light 00:38:48 Addiction, Migraines, and Post-Migraine States 00:41:49 Popularity of True Crime & Human Nature 00:43:35 AD BREAK 2 00:48:57 Castaneda, Sorcery, and the Second Attention 01:01:42 Recapitulation, Lucid Dreaming, and the Mind 01:09:21 Writing Process & Silence 01:18:11 AI, Identity, and the Future of Writing 01:22:57 The Fires, Amputation, and Artistic Response 01:39:23 Empathy, Fatalism, and Enlightenment 01:50:04 Mortality, Aging, and the Illusion of Control 01:54:37 Transformation, Intent, and Everyday Art 01:57:13 Memorable Events & The Fading of Art 02:00:18 Closing Reflections & Farewell LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/rrpitunes Spotify: http://bit.ly/rrpspotify Google: http://bit.ly/rrpgooglepods Meal Planner: http://meals.richroll.com Voicing Change Book: http://richroll.com/vc Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips Newsletter: http://bit.ly/rollcallemail CONNECT WITH RICH ✩ Website - http://richroll.com​ ✩ Rich Roll Podcast - https://richroll.com/all-episodes/ ✩ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richroll/ ✩ Twitter - https://twitter.com/richroll ✩ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richrollfans ✩ Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich ✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra/ ✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com​ ✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed/ ✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed/ ✩ Support - https://www.patreon.com/richroll Thanks To The Team: Jason Camiolo, Dan Drake, Morgan McRae, Blake Curtis, Desmond Loh * * * * * NEW TO RICH? Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles: http://bit.ly/otillonyt http://bit.ly/vegansglam I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE: 2630 Conejo Spectrum St. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 #richroll #richrollpodcast